Wire-rope-splicing tool



g- 1929. T. J. A. SHEPHERD 1,726,165

WIRE ROPE SPLICING TOOL Filed March 1-928 2 \Sbgpher;

g W 9% Mm Patented Aug. 27, 192.9. d V

UNITED STATES :PATENT oFrlcs.

WIREROPESPLICING TOOL.

Application filed March 9, 1928, Serial'No. 260,461, and in New ZealandJanuary 16, 1928.

This invention has been devised with the object of providing an improvedtool for use in the operations of wire rope splicing, as for instancesplicing two ends together by the well known inlaying system, and theformation of eye splices upon a rope end. The tool is intended toreplace the ordinary marlin spike generally used in the performance ofthese operations and by its employment greatly facilitates and expeditesthe carrying out thereof. In effect, the tool is a development of theordinary marlin spike.

The invention consists in the construction of a marlin spike bar withfeatures of novel nature that provide for the rope strands in inlayingwork being quickly and accurately inlaid, and in the combination withthe bar of means whereby the rope strands in eye splicing operations maybe gripped for tightening and loosened and rolled, as is required inthese operations. 1

The tool is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a plan, and

Figure 2 a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal side sectional elevation.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the tool.

According hereto the tool is formed by a metal bar 10 of ordinary marlinspike type, that is, with a point 11 at one end, and a cross handle 12at the other, but in this invention, the bar is made of approximatelyelliptical form in cross-section so that when the strands of a rope arepierced by the point 11, they may be opened out by turning the bar tocause its major axis to extend across the rope and thereby facilitatethe insertion of the jointing strand in ordinaryinlay splicingoperations. Such pointed end 11 also is formed with an eye 13 extendingthrough it at an angle in the longitudinal line of the tool. This is forthe purpose of threading through the point, the strand of rope to beinlaid, so that then, by winding the tool round and round along on theconvolutions of the rope, such strand will be inlaid with the ropestrands in the required manner. The point, in addition, is formed withnotches 13 in its surface disposed, one on each side of its majordiameter, and in line with the said eye 13 so that the rope strands willfit into such notches and keep the tool point in place while it is beingwound upon the rope. Also the surface of the point may be grooved with agroove 14 leading to the eye, to aid the laying of the rope strandthroughthe eye.

The saidbar 10 also, in this invention, has combined with it, meanswhereby a strand threaded through the said eye 13 maybe gripped andheld, and then released to move through the eye, and afresh gripobtained at another point, in continuous operations, as is required whensplicing a strand in eye splicing operations.

These means comprise a lever 15 that is laid Within a groove 16 toextend along the 7 main bar 10 and to project at its back end. The saidlever is pivoted at 17 in the bar near its forward end and such forwardend passes through aslot opening 18 in the bar and underlies the eye 13in the bar point.

The lever 15 is adapted to turn on its pivot 17 so that by raising andlowering the back end, the forward end is made to move away from andtowards the side of the point 11 into which it is designed to fit, thelever being so fitted into the bar that when turned in, the whole of itsforward part lies within the cross-sectional area, allowing of the barbeing used in its usual functional operations.

The forward end of the lever 15 is itself formed with aneye'19 that whensuch end is turned up, makes coincidence with the eye 13 in the point,so as to form one therewith. In the inlay splicing operationsbeforementioned the strand is threaded through both these eyes 13 and19, which form one, and in the eye splicing operations the strand mayalso be threaded through both and the lever 15 worked in and out toslide its end on such strand.

Fitted lengthwise to slide in the lever top is a metal strip 20, theback end of which is connected to a rocking operating lever 21 that ispivoted to the main lever end, and is so designed as by an in and outmovement, to push the strip 20 inward and to draw it outward, alongwithin the lever. The said rocking lever 21 is pivoted in bearings 22upon the end of the lever 15 and extends upwardly. The rear end of thestrip 20 passes through this lever 21 and has a stop,

23 upon its extremity so that the desired movements of the strip areobtained through the rocking of the lever. The forward end of this strip20 extends to the rear edge of the eye 19 in thelever, and is rounded sothat when the strip is drawn back, it 0011- forms with the eye, as shownby the full lines in Figure 6, allowing a rope strand to pass freelythrough it. When the strip is pushed in as in dotted lines in Figure 6,it extends into '3 the eye area and provides for such strand beingjambed and gripped between it and the other side of the eye, with a gripthat will holldrit tightly while the strand is being .twistedon themain-part'of therope. Then by,- alternately gripping. and releasing thestrand, synchronously with working the lever. .endginand out, as shownby the dotted linesin Figures 3 and 6,. the strand may be gripped .andwound in the manner necessary in effecting these operations.

I claim 1. A wire IOPBzSPllClIlQ, tool comprising the combination with apointed. bar having an eye formed to extend through it near its pointedend, and iformed with a slot extending longitudinallytherein, of a leverpivoted in suchslot'so that it extends longitudinally withzthe bartocause its forward end tolie beneath the said eye, on one side of thepointedlend-ofthe bar, and the rear end to lie along the bar uponitsother side, and which lever at such forward end is formedwith'anieyeythat is adapted to coincide with the eyeinlthe bar pointwhen the forward-end is "turnedjinward uponthe bar length,substantiallyias specified.

2. In ;a-wire.rop,ej splicing tool constructed in. accordance with claim1, the combination with the said lever,.of a strip laid alongthe-outside thereof; and made. movable longitudinally thereon, suchstrip having its 1forward endarrangedto extend vinto the eye of theleverand its: rear end to project beyond the rear end of the lever, and meansupon the lever end whereby the strip may be moved to and fro upon thelever, substantially as specified.

3. In a wire rope splicing tool as claimed in claim 1, the combinationwith the lever, of a strip arranged along the outside thereof andmovable longitudinally thereon, said. strip having its forward endarranged to extend into the eye of the lever and its rear end to projectbeyond the rear end of the lever, and another lever rockably mountedupon the rear end of the first .mentioned lever and projecting upwardlyand through which the rear end of the said strip is loosely passed andheld.

41-. In. a wire rope splicing tool as claimed in claim .1, wherein thebar is of elliptical. shape in cross section andis formed with notcheson; opposite sides of itspointed end and in line with the eye thereinand the slot being shaped to accommodate the lever within the pointedcndand throughout a portion ofthe length ofthe bar adjacent groove-onthe opposite side of the bar, substantially as and for the purposes setforth. "In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

THOMAS JOHN ARTHUR SHEPHERD.

